The Great Phil Jackson after Lakers swept out of playoffs by Dallas
The LA Lakers were swept out of the playoffs by the Dallas Mavericks. The final game was the worst playoff loss in Lakers history. It was also the last game that Phil Jackson will ever coach again in the NBA. (allegedly). Sure it wasn't the way Phil wanted to go out, but maybe it's time for the Lakers to move on. Today the players just seemed to quit on the zen master today. He seemed burnt out on the sidelines, a man that just wanted to get away. The game, for now, seemed to pass one of the greatest coaches bye. So now discussion turns to who will replace Phil. Who could possibly fill his shoes? All sings point to the hiring of longtime Lakers assistant Brian Shaw. Shaw's young and seems to have the trust of the players, including Kobe. However, Shaw has no head coaching experience, not even at the college level. Having the respect of the players as an assistant is different the commanding respect as a head coach. It's like dating your best friend. When your friends everything is great, then you add a romantic aspect to it and it turns awkward. That's what could happen to Mr. Shaw's and the players' relationship if he's named head coach. The other question raised, is he ready? Sure he was a Phil disciple, but he's never ventured out on his own. DO the Lakers really wanna wait while Shaw works out the kinks? I don't think so. It just screams of Mike Brown 2.0. The other named raised is Byron Scott. Though, I don't know the extent of the contract he has with Cleveland. There is one name that hasn't been raised lately. The name of a coach who's been to the finals as an assistant and head coach. A coach that's dealt with intense media pressure and has handled it with pose. That man is.......
Why not give him a chance?
Yes JVG hasn't coached since he was fired from the Rockets. But he has become one of the best analyst in the business. The Lakers already showed interest in him in March:
'
I heard again this week that the Lakers remain intrigued by the prospect of hiring Jeff Van Gundy — and you have to presume that the reigning champs are in the select club of teams with the wherewithal to finally lure Van Gundy away from ESPN’s courtside announcing table — but I’ve had the same question every year when someone says he’s a candidate in L.A.: Can Van Gundy really deliver the sort of entertainment that Lakers owner Jerry Buss craves? – (Marc Stein – Daily Dime)"-via lakers nation blog
Some Laker fans were not pleased by this. But why? JVG is a proven winner, he won in NY and in Houston. He has finals experience as a head coach. He can handle large personalities that would usually conflict. All these factors put JVG ahead of Brian Shaw. Maybe give JVG a short leash, if he struggles pull him and replace him with Shaw. But JVG will command the respect of the players, a talent Shaw might not have. Let's not forget who JVG can lure away from his brother.
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